Wheel



March 3, 1936. I c. EKSERGIAN WHEEL Filed Feb. 3. 1954 N Am WG W ms m m .L S U L O R A C A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES WHEEL Carolus L. Eksergian, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Budd Wheel Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 3, 1934, Serial No. 709,548

4 Claims.

This invention relates to wheels and more particularly to sheet metal wheels of hollow section, and the cover means therefor.

One object of this invention is to provide a wheel of the above-indicated character that shall be simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operation. Another object of the invention is to provide a cover for a wheel portion of hollow section that shall compensate for relative weaving, in service, between positions on said section, or adjacent thereto, at which the cover is fixed.

In sheet metal wheels, made by die drawing, having spokes or other parts of hollow or channel section, if covers for the hollow section parts are provided by having the cover conform to the recess or hollow which it is to seal and fixing the cover about its perimeter to the hollow section, by reason of the relative weaving between portions at opposite sides of the hollow, the cover tends to buckle or fracture and to work loose at its sealed edges or other sealed parts.

In practicing this invention, I overcome this objection and provide an effective seal, by providing a yieldable portion in the cover between its fixed or sealed positions, whereby compensation for the weaving of the covered member is obtained, and whereby gradual dissipation of strain is accomplished.

Where the cover is substantially annular, or ring like, in part or in whole, as in a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is preferably constructed of relatively thin sheet metal having a substantially annular portion between its inner and outer peripheries of compound or S-curve section. By this means, the weave is substantially all taken up in the curve and the sealed edges retained intact.

Other features, such as a substantially channel rib for stiffening, etc., on the cover that does not traverse, but emerges gradually into the abovementioned compound curve-section, are also provided.

Figure 1, of the accompanying drawing, is an axial section of a portion of a wheel, rim and cover combination means of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view, in rear elevation, of the structure of Figure 1, the rim being omitted.

Figure 3 is a view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1.

The wheel body or spider, preferably constructed of sheet metal, such for example, as chromium steel, and preferably of one piece, has spokes 1 of rear-opening channel section, a forwardlyconverging conical nave 8, a substantially annular portion 9, similarly of substantially conical form and rearwardly converging from one extremity Ill ofthe nave to a flange I2, said flange extending radially inwardly from the rear extremity of the portion 9 and provided with apertured conical seats !4 for demountable attachment to a hub flange by usual studs and nuts. The spokes l have outer end closure portions l5 for attachment to a drop center or other form rim I6, as by spot welding l3, riveting or other suitable means. The portions 8 and 9 constitute the sides of an annulus of rear-opening axial substantially channel section.

A flexible, thin-gauge, sheet metal, rear cover for the wheel body is also in the form of a spider having spoke cover portions or legs [1 and an annular portion l8, at the radially inner perimeter of which, a portion I9 of compound or S-curve axial section is provided. The cover spider further has edge portions 20 conforming to the contours of the spokes for attachment thereto preferably by welding, and ribs 22 of channel section and of substantially Y-shape extending from positions adjacent to the outer ends of the spokes, to positions approaching, but not traversing the curve section [9. The cover is thus rendered rigid at all parts radially outwardly of the curve. A radially innermost peripheral portion 23 of the cover is disposed in broadside engagement with the body, over a substantial axial extent thereof, adjacent to the juncture of the parts 9 and I2 to which it is preferably welded or otherwise secured.

In service, compensation for relative weaving,

or yield, between the parts is effected in the cover by the curve l9, whereby the fixed, sealed or welded parts 20 and 23 are relieved of stress to maintain their positions relative to the body and to effectively seal the hollow spokes and nave.

The invention is extremely effective, and a substantial improvement over former structures and, although I have shown and described a particular form thereof, changes may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wheel comprising a spider including spokes of rear-opening channel section, a forwardly converging conical nave and a conical portion rearwardly converging from the front of the nave, and a rear cover spider fixed about the rear edges of the spoke and nave, and about said rearwardly converging conical portion and having an annular portion of compound-curve axial section adjacent to its inner periphery, said cover also having ribs of channel section extending from adjacent to the outer ends of the spokes to an app-roach position on said compound curve section.

2. A pressed metal vehicle wheel of theartillery type comprising a rim, a unitary wheel body having a substantially conical nave and spokes radially extending therefrom, a substantially conically extending portion interconnecting the outboard extremity of the nave with a substantially radially extending mounting flange and a substantially spider-shaped light gauge member secured to the wheel body adjacent the spoke and nave peripheries and adjacent the mounting flange, said light gauge spider member having a substantially annularly extending channel section portion adjacent its radially inner periphery and intermediate its securement to the nave and mounting flange portions.

3. A wheel comprising a spider including spokes of rear-opening channel section, a forwardly-converging conical nave and a conical portion rearwardly converging from the front of the nave, and a rear cover spider fixed t0 the rear edges of the spokes and nave, and to said rearwardly converging conical portion and having an annular portion of compound-curve axial section, located between the forwardly converging conical nave and the rearwardly converging conical portion.

4. A pressed metal vehicle wheel of the artillery type comprising a rim, a unitary wheel body having a substantially conical nave and spokes radially extending therefrom, a substantially conically extending portion interconnecting the outboard extremity of the nave with a substantially radially extending mounting flange and a substantially spider-shaped light gauge member secured to the axially inner portions of the spokes, to the radially outer periphery of said conical nave, and to the radially outer portion of said mounting flange, said light gauge spider member having a substantially annularly extending channel section portion adjacent its radially inner periphery and intermediate its securement to the nave and mounting flange portions.

CAROLUS L. EKSERGIAN. 

